Local Nonprofit Addresses Homeland Security Issues at California Statewide Conference

Executive Director of a disaster preparedness and response nonprofit, will address the following at a California Statewide Conference -- · Why special needs communities are left out of Homeland Security / terrorism planning; · Why traditional personal preparedness programs fail individuals with special needs and put emergency responders at greater risk; and · How to easily include vulnerable populations in planning and response efforts.

Collaborating Agencies Responding to Disasters (CARD) of Alameda County will be featured at the Disaster Resistant California Conference, held at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, on April 21, 22 and 23. na-Marie Jones, CARDs Executive Director, will address --
·   Why special needs communities are left out of Homeland Security / terrorism planning;
·   Why traditional personal preparedness programs fail individuals with special needs and put emergency responders at greater risk; and
·   How to easily include vulnerable populations in planning and response efforts to build an inclusive, more economically resilient and sustainably prepared community.

Who:   na-Marie Jones, Executive Director, CARD of Alameda County
   
What:   DRC Conference: Mid-Afternoon Concurrent Breakout Session #13
   Bridging the Gap --Integrating Society and the Public Administration Process
Presentation: Nonprofits: Critical Partners and the Missing Link to Serving our Most Vulnerable Populations

When: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 || Session begins at 3:20pm ||Ms. Jones is scheduled to present at 3:45pm

Where: Atherton Room, The Fairmont Hotel, 170 South Market Street, San Jose CA

Jones serves on Alameda Countys Bio-terrorism planning project, the City of Oaklands terrorism planning committee, the City of San Leandro Disaster Council, the Alameda County Emergency Managers Association, the City of Oaklands Emergency Management Board and several other emergency management forums representing community agencies and the seniors, children and people with special needs they serve. For more information on CARD, please call 510-451-3140.

The conference is sponsored by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, in partnership with the Collaborative for Disaster Mitigation based at San Jose State University. Conference partners include the California Earthquake Authority and the California Seismic Safety Commission. The conference is funded by a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and private sponsorships. For a complete schedule or to register, visit www.oes.ca.gov, and click DRC in the right column.